Meet J.L. DuRona | Novelist

We had the good fortune of connecting with J.L. DuRona and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J.L., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before writing “The Berge Sisters Tour the Neitherswarth,” I believed that my creative endeavors would always be a “side hustle.” I bought into the notion that “real grownups” had full-time jobs they didn’t like, existing in a numb misery of their own creation. After the pandemic in 2020, I realized I needed to make a change. I knew that if I didn’t share my work with the world that I’d regret it, so here we are!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love telling stories. I love making people laugh, cry, and go “ew!” The best stories inspire us, make us think, and shine light in the darkest of corners. “The Berge Sisters Tour the Neitherswarth” is the first story I’ve written that came out fully formed from the start.
But more than anything, this book is the most “me” of them all. I love stories that mix the scientific with the supernatural, and the creepy with the quirky. It would be disingenuous for my first novel not to have monsters, machines, and the macabre.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
*Clears throat and prepares best announcer voice*

Central Vermont has a lot to offer! An entire day would, of course, have to be spent downtown. Church St. is full of shops, street performers, and delicious food. Lake Champlain is just down the road, so a walk on the waterfront is a must. The Spirit of Ethan Allen does cruses around the lake too, which are nice and relaxing. You might even see the fabled Champ while you’re out there! There are also some great places to go hiking, like Red Rocks, Mt. Philo, and Camel’s Hump. You also can’t forget the local farmer’s markets, because who doesn’t love fresh produce?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m heavily inspired by R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. His work made me look at the world differently, double-checking to make sure the tree in my yard hadn’t moved, and feeling both relieved and disappointed when it hadn’t. It’s my dream to inspire young people with my work the same way Stine inspired me.

Website: jldurona.com

Instagram: @jldurona

Twitter: @durona_jesse

Facebook: facebook.com/jldurona

Other: Places to pre-order “The Berge Sisters Tour the Neitherswarth.”
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Berge-Sisters-Tour-Neitherswarth-ebook/dp/B0B4TBFQ76/ref=
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-berge-sisters-tour-the-neitherswarth
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-berge-sisters-tour-the-neitherswarth-jl-durona/1141824255?ean=2940185574621
Apple Book https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443214154
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=L9h4EAAAQBAJ

Image Credits
Cover art by Blair D. Shedd at onegemini.com